Temple of Percy

True to his word, they set off an hour later, their path winding through the darkened terrain of the Underworld. Hades had summoned a sleek, black chariot pulled by four midnight-colored steeds with glowing red eyes. Their hooves struck the ground with a sound like thunder, sending sparks flying into the air. Aurelia hesitated before stepping into the chariot, her pulse quickening as she took in the ominous surroundings.

The chariot ride began in silence. Hades stood at the helm, reins in hand, his posture rigid and unyielding. His face was a mask of indifference, his piercing gaze fixed on the road ahead as though she wasn't even there.

Aurelia shifted uncomfortably, the tension between them palpable. She had hoped that the ease they'd found at breakfast might linger, but instead, Hades had retreated into a cold, unreadable demeanor. Every attempt at conversation died in her throat as the weight of his silence pressed on her.

The landscape around them only deepened her discomfort. The road wound through a terrain that seemed alive with its own menacing energy. Jagged rocks glistened like obsidian, while an ever-present mist curled low to the ground, shrouding the earth in an eerie veil. Above, the twilight sky churned with streaks of purple and black, crackling occasionally with faint sparks of lightning.

Her eyes wandered to a winding river, its surface black as ink and unnervingly still. "What is this place?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely audible over the sound of the chariot wheels.

"The Vaedryn," Hades replied curtly, his tone devoid of warmth. "The river of sorrow and revelation. Those who approach it unprepared are consumed by their own regrets."

He didn't elaborate, and Aurelia was left to study the haunting water in silence. She sighed inwardly, wondering if his sudden coldness was due to last night—or perhaps it was something she had done this morning.

They pressed on, and the terrain grew darker and more foreboding. Shadows moved along the edges of her vision, their movements deliberate, as if they were watching her. Then, her gaze fell upon a towering figure cloaked in black, holding an impossibly long scythe.

The sight sent a shiver down her spine. "Is that… the Grim Reaper?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Hades spared her a glance, his eyes devoid of the amusement they'd held earlier. "One of many," he said simply. "He ensures the souls reach their proper destinations. No one escapes his judgment."

The Reaper didn't acknowledge them as they passed, but Aurelia couldn't tear her eyes away. The chill of his presence lingered long after they'd moved on.

Further along, the path narrowed, revealing a cavernous expanse filled with writhing, translucent forms. Souls. Their mournful cries echoed through the air, and the sound sent shivers down Aurelia's spine.

Some souls were tethered by chains, dragged toward a darkened pit that seemed to swallow all light. She felt her stomach twist. "Are they… being sent to hell?" she asked hesitantly, glancing at Hades.

He nodded, his face impassive. "Judgment is final here. Those who lived lives of cruelty and deceit find themselves bound for Tartarus."

She swallowed hard, the weight of the scene settling in her chest. The tortured expressions of the souls clung to her thoughts, their cries echoing in her ears. She clenched her fists, fighting back the unease that threatened to overwhelm her.

"Don't dwell on it," Hades said, his voice softer now but still distant. "It's the nature of things here. What you see is justice—though not always the kind mortals like to imagine."

Despite his attempt at reassurance, the wall between them remained. Aurelia nodded silently, though her mind churned with questions she was too afraid to ask.

Finally, the chariot crested a hill, and the Temple of Percy came into view. Carved from dark stone, its towering spires reached into the churning sky. A soft, golden light emanated from its entrance, a stark contrast to the ominous surroundings.

"We're close," Hades said flatly, his gaze fixed on the temple.

Aurelia swallowed hard, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. His cold demeanor hadn't thawed for even a moment during the journey, and it left her with an ache she didn't want to name.

As the chariot came to a halt before the towering entrance of the Temple of Percy, Aurelia hesitated. The air here was different—thick with a strange energy that vibrated against her skin. The golden light spilling from the temple's interior was oddly inviting, but the foreboding aura of the Underworld reminded her she was far from safe.

Hades stepped down first, his movements deliberate and commanding, as if the temple itself bent to his presence. Without sparing her a glance, he extended a hand to help her down. She hesitated briefly, then took it, his touch cold and impersonal, much like the man himself had been throughout their journey.

"Stay close," he said curtly, releasing her hand as soon as her feet touched the ground.

The dismissal stung, though she tried not to show it. She followed him silently, her gaze darting between the intricate carvings that adorned the temple's massive stone doors. Each panel depicted scenes of mortals pleading for mercy, gods turning their backs, and justice being meted out in brutal detail.

Hades pressed his palm to the door, and it groaned open with an agonizing slowness. Inside, the temple was vast and dimly lit, its walls lined with glowing runes that shifted as though alive. The air smelled of ancient stone and something faintly metallic, like blood.

Aurelia couldn't help but glance at him, searching his face for any sign of warmth or reassurance. There was none. His expression remained cold and detached, his focus entirely on their surroundings.

The silence between them grew heavier with each step, and she couldn't bear it any longer. "Is this how you always are with people?" she blurted out, her voice echoing in the cavernous space.

Hades stopped abruptly, turning to face her. His dark eyes glimmered in the low light, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of something human behind his cold exterior. "What do you mean?"

"You've barely said two words to me since breakfast," she said, crossing her arms defensively. "If I've done something to offend you, at least have the decency to tell me."

His jaw tightened, and he looked away, his gaze fixed on the far end of the temple. "You haven't offended me," he said after a pause. "I've been… preoccupied."

"Preoccupied," she repeated, skepticism lacing her tone. "With what? You've hardly spared me a glance all day."

Hades' eyes snapped back to her, his expression darkening. "Perhaps because looking at you, Aurelia, is more distracting than I care to admit."

Her breath caught, the weight of his words slamming into her. Before she could respond, he turned and began walking again, leaving her rooted to the spot.

They reached the center of the temple, where a large, circular altar stood. The golden light Aurelia had seen from outside emanated from its surface, casting strange, shifting shadows on the walls.

"This is the Temple of Percy," Hades said, his voice echoing with authority. "It is said that the altar grants clarity to those who seek it—but it demands something in return."

"What kind of something?" Aurelia asked cautiously.

"Truth," he said simply.

She frowned. "What does that mean?"

Hades stepped closer to the altar, his gaze fixed on its glowing surface. "It will show you what you seek to understand, but only if you are willing to bare your soul. Lies and half-truths have no place here."

Aurelia hesitated, the weight of his words settling heavily on her. "Have you used it?"

He didn't answer immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice was low. "Once."

There was something in his tone—regret, perhaps?—that made her chest tighten. She wanted to press him, to ask what he had sought and what he had given, but his closed-off demeanor warned her against it.

Instead, she turned her attention to the altar, its light casting an almost ethereal glow on her face. "And you think this will help us?"

"It must," Hades said, his voice firm.

She nodded, though doubt churned in her stomach. As she stepped closer to the altar, she could feel its energy thrumming beneath her skin, pulling at something deep within her